BastementSparkle

Like I said, if he wants to do something else, that's up to him. Whatever he wants to do is cool with me. I'm just pointing out that I don't think there's really anything wrong with him as he is. Not necessarily saying this is you, but it's a common trope I've seen where somebody (Usually a Fanfiction writer.) has Spike run away from home or something like that and then he turns into this ultra-cool super hero or something, and then he's treated like he's "Finally worth something" and he all his pony friends were just "Holding him back" or whatever. I've seen it a lot and it's always kinda weird because while these people claim to like Spike, they seem to like him more for what he could be, rather than who he actually is. I just don't really see what's so "Wrong" with him as he is though. He's already cool. The Spike that's Twi's number 1 assistant, best friend and occasional voice of reason, who plays O&O and collects comics, who's always dependable, who occasionally maybe let's his greed get the better of him...He's already cool, he doesn't need to change into someone else. So, I mean. If he wants something else, good for him. He can probably do anything he puts his mind to. I just don't also don't see the problem with him staying the way he is, long as he's satisfied with it. Twilight definitely still needs somebody to help her out and keep her under control sometimes, and who's better at that than him?

He became really upset back in Season 1 when he felt like Owloscious was taking his place. He also clearly takes his position as Number 1 assistant pretty darn seriously. I highly doubt it was chosen for him, and if he was so unhappy with the role, I think he'd show it at some point. Instead he always talks about being Twi's assistant with nothing but pride. I think nobody's ever really asked him because he's never really seemed particularly unhappy with it. Heck, he gave up being Dragon Lord to go back to being in Ponyville with his friends, I think that speaks volumes.

I think it's very clear he wanted a father, and I don't think he's unaware of it at all. He was clearly pretty accepting and immediately trusting of Sludge when he told Spike he was his dad. I think he's pretty aware of his own feelings, even if he's not always exactly aware of how they influence him. He might be a bit uncertain about things after Sludge though, considering how much Sludge probably hurt him. As for whether or not a father figure would help Spike "Reach his potential" or whatever...Maybe? I mean, if Spike wants more out of his life, I'm pretty sure Twilight and the others would support him as it is, he's more than proven himself already. He survived the Gauntlet of fire, was the first to officially reach out in friendship to a Changeling, is the Hero of the Crystal Empire, etc. He's already a hero, he's not just some "Assistant". He honesty seems pretty content for the most part being Twi's assistant anyway, and if he decides he wants to do something else that's cool, but I don't really see the problem with him just being who he is now if that's what he wants. Spike's already cool, he doesn't have to change if he doesn't want, he's not being "Held back" by anyone.

I still like the way Starlight handled that, actually. I can get where you're coming from, but I think looking at as him being "Rewarded" for acting out is the wrong way. Discord was acting how he was because he felt left out and unincluded, pushing him further away like Starlight originally did was just worsening the issue. Apologizing and including him was the right way to handle it, in my opinion. Not because Discord was justified in acting the way he did, but because Starlight realized what he "Needed" was to be included, and that if she offered him that it might solve the problem. Just punishing him would probably only make him angrier and worsen things in the long run. She put Discord's need to be included over the "Need" for a punishment. Now, one could argue that maybe a punishment in combination with offering him inclusion would then be the ideal way to go, though I wonder what punishment you could really give to him? Maybe have Flutters give him a stern talking to, that's really about the only thing you can do, short of locking him up in stone again which would be horribly overkill. Also, wouldn't really say he get's worse each appearance, as I think his most recent appearances prior to that episode all actually showed him in a pretty positive light mostly. But I've had this argument about this episode a million times, don't think I'm gonna stop having it anytime soon.

I don't really care about "Consequences" that much really, at least when it comes to reforming characters. What I care about when it comes to a character reforming is them acknowledging their own mistakes and being willing to change, and putting in the effort to try and change and be better. Somepony like Starlight's fine with me, because she stood down of her own accord, was willing to accept a punishment if it was handed down to her, and has put effort into trying to change and be a better person. Yes, she still slips up and falls into old habits and makes mistakes, but that's to be expected for someone who's still learning. In my mind, punishments and consequences should ideally serve a kind of purpose. It should be to show someone how their actions affect others, to teach them a lesson, to make them understand something, to make them make amends for what they've done, or in drastic cases, to lock them up or keep them away from others for those people's safety. If somebody already feels bad, already understands what they did wrong, already is trying to make amends for their actions, and isn't too much of a danger to anyone else anymore...what is the purpose of a punishment, or "Consequences" then? There should be a purpose in my mind, if you're just doing it to make yourself feel better or because they "Deserve" it...I think that's a scary mindset, personally. In the case of really bad guys, like say...a murderer, I can kind of get the point of laying down consequences even if they are sorry and willing to change, but I think that still falls under the category of a punishment for "Safety". You're punishing them to try and protect others ideally. As for unrepentant baddies, well, like I said, the punishments should serve a purpose. Reformative or protective. If we're just talking about "Narrative" consequences rather than in-universe ones, I think those are fine. It can be a little cathartic to see some bad guy get a bit of bad karma for his actions, but really only to a point for me. I don't really see any kind of satisfaction out of people suffering, even if it is "Deserved".